Just recently, Vladimir Putin who is the Russian President has signed two decrees. They are meant to recognize the ‘Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR)’ and the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)’. Both of them that are specifically located in eastern Ukraine would be recognized as independent and sovereign states. It is a long-awaited decision.
In an interview which Vladimir Putin said, “I consider it necessary to make a long-overdue decision to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the DPR and the LPR”. Vladimir Putin also has instructed Russian armed forces to guarantee peace within the two ‘countries’ after perceiving the freedom of the LPR and the DPR.
For those who might not know, these are some of the info about Luhansk and also Donetsk People’s Republic:
1) Luhansk People’s Republic
The Luhansk People’s Republic that is also abbreviated as LPR is actually a self-proclaimed breakaway state located specifically within the territory of Ukraine. It was designated as a terrorist organization in Ukraine. Originated in Luhansk Oblast in the Donbas region, a domain globally recognized, with the special case of the Russian Federation, to be a portion of Ukraine. The territory’s largest city is Luhansk functions as its capital. In its structure, LPR could be announced to be a democratic constitutional state and the current head of state is Leonid Pasechnik.
2) Donetsk People’s Republic
The Donetsk People’s Republic or better known as DPR is also a self-proclaimed breakaway state located specifically in Ukraine. Donetsk serves as the capital city and also the largest city within the Donetsk People’s Republic. Since the year 2018, Denis Pushilin has served as the DPR head of state. As a whole, Ukraine regards both the DPR and also the LPR as terrorist organizations. Surprisingly, Russia had formerly already recognized since February 2017 the identity documents, diplomas, birth- and marriage certificates, and vehicle registration plates issued by the DPR before Russia officially recognized the DPR as independent states in February 2021.
B0th of these regions have really come a long way since 2014. That is the year when the conflict in the separatist regions began. It is when rebels who are loyal to Russia seized government buildings in Donetsk and also Luhansk.
Sources: VOA News, NATO, The New York Times.